Osteoprotegerin in milk

Abstract

The present invention pertains to osteoprotegerin obtainable from milk sources, in particular human and bovine milk. The present invention also relates to the use thereof for preparing an ingestible preparation and/or a pharmaceutical composition, in particular to the use of such a preparation/composition for preventing or treating disorders associated with bone metabolism and immune function.

1. A food material comprising an osteoprotegerin isolated from human or bovine milk or colostrum, wherein the osteoprotegerin includes a glycosylation pattern giving rise to a polypeptide having a molecular weight of approximately 130 kDa, wherein the osteoprotegerin has been added to the food material and wherein said food material is selected from the group consisting of yogurt, curd, cheese, fermented milks, milk-based fermented products, ice-creams, fermented cereal-based products, milk-based powders, infant formulae and pet food. 
     
     
       2. A method of making a food material, enteral composition or pharmaceutical composition, the method comprising providing the food material, enteral composition or pharmaceutical composition and adding to the food material, enteral composition or pharmaceutical composition an amount of osteoprotegerin isolated from human or bovine milk or colostrum effective to assist in formation of lymphoid tissues and regulation of immune responses in a subject that consumes the composition, wherein the osteoprotegerin includes a glycosylation pattern giving rise to a polypeptide having a molecular weight of 130 kDa and wherein the food material is selected from the group consisting of milk, yogurt, curd, cheese, fermented milks, milk-based fermented products, ice-creams, fermented cereal-based products, milk-based powders, infant formulae and pet food. 
     
     
       3. A food material, enteral composition or pharmaceutical composition comprising osteoprotegerin (OPG) obtained from recombination methods in cells yielding a glycosylation pattern as found in the milk-OPG, wherein the osteoprotegerin includes a glycosylation pattern giving rise to a polypeptide having a molecular weight of 130 kDa and wherein the food material, enteral composition or pharmaceutical composition is selected from the group consisting of yogurt, curd, cheese, fermented milks, milk-based fermented products, ice-creams, fermented cereal-based products, milk-based powders, infant formulae, pet food, dried oral supplement, liquid oral supplement, dry tube-feeding and liquid tube-feeding. 
     
     
       4. Osteoprotegerin isolated from human or bovine milk or colostrum, wherein the osteoprotegerin includes a glycosylation pattern giving rise to a polypeptide having a molecular weight of 130 kDa, wherein the osteoprotegerin has a polypeptide sequence identified by SEQ ID NO: 1. 
     
     
       5. An enteral composition or a pharmaceutical composition comprising osteoprotegerin isolated from human or bovine milk or colostrums, wherein the osteoprotegerin includes a glycosylation pattern giving rise to a polypeptide having a molecular weight of 130 kDa and wherein the osteoprotegerin is in an amount effective to assist in formation of lymphoid tissues and regulation of immune responses in a subject that consumes the composition and wherein the enteral composition or pharmaceutical composition is selected from the group consisting of dried oral supplement, liquid oral supplement, dry tube-feeding and liquid tube-feeding. 
     
     
       6. A method of making a food material, enteral composition or pharmaceutical composition, the method comprising providing the food material, enteral composition or pharmaceutical composition and adding to the food material, enteral composition or pharmaceutical composition an amount of osteoprotegerin isolated from human or bovine milk or colostrum effective to assist in formation of lymphoid tissues and regulation of immune responses in a subject that consumes the composition, wherein the osteoprotegerin includes a glycosylation pattern giving rise to a polypeptide having a molecular weight of 130 kDa. 
     
     
       7. The method according to  claim 6 , wherein the amount of osteoprotegerin is added to a food material selected from the group consisting of milk, yogurt, curd, cheese, fermented milks, milk-based fermented products, ice-creams, fermented cereal-based products, milk-based powders, infant formulae and pet food. 
     
     
       8. The method according to  claim 6 , wherein the amount of osteoprotegerin is added to an enteral or pharmaceutical composition. 
     
     
       9. An ingestible product made by a method of making a food material, enteral composition or pharmaceutical composition, the method comprising providing the food material, enteral composition or pharmaceutical composition and adding to the food material, enteral composition or pharmaceutical composition an amount of osteoprotegerin isolated from human or bovine milk or colostrums effective to assist in formulation of lymphoid tissue and regulation of immune responses in a subject that consumes the composition, wherein the osteoprotegerin includes a glycosylation pattern giving rise to a polypeptide having a molecular weight of 130 kDa and wherein the food material, enteral composition or pharmaceutical composition is selected from the group consisting of yogurt, curd, cheese, fermented milks, milk-based fermented products, ice-creams, fermented cereal-based products, milk-based powders, infant formulae, pet food, dried oral supplement, liquid oral supplement, dry tube-feeding and liquid tube-feeding.